Harness.



L. A. GILSON.

HARNESS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1914.

Patented July 13, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'JOLUMBXA PLANOGRAPH COHWASHINGTON. D. c.

L. A. GILSON.

HARNESS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1914.

Patented July 13, 1915.

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AZ tar "neg COLUMBIA FLANOGRAPH CO-IWASHINGTDN. D. c.

FFTQE.

LOUIS A. GILSON, or minnow, KENTUCKY.

HARNESS.

Specification of letters Patent.

Patented July 13, 1915.

Application filed March 25, 1914. Serial No. 827,058.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, Louis A. GILsoN,-a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Ludlow, in the county of Kenton and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harness, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to harness, and more especially to harness for light driving and racing purposes, and its object is to simplify the construction of such harness, render it more efficient and dependable, and enable the application and adjustment of the harness to the horse to be made more quickly.

My invention consists in the parts and in the details of construction and arrangement of parts as will hereinafter be more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure l is a general perspective view of a harness embodying my invention, the horse, and parts of the harness not involved in my invention, being shown by dotted lines; Fig. 2 is a partial view similar to Fig. 1, showing a modification of my invention; Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the saddle and girth disconnected from the other parts of the harness, and with the straps represented as unfastened and drawn out from the saddle and girth to more clearly illustrate the details of construction of these parts; Fig. 4: is a detail perspective view of a combination shaft tug and support; Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the bars with the D-clips at its opposite ends; Fig. 6 is a vertical cross section through the saddle and its associated parts, looking to the rear; Fig. 7 is a vertical section corresponding to that of Fig. 6, but enlarged and showing the means for adjusting the shaft tug; and Fig. 8 is a detail of the shaft-tug fastening means.

In my invention, the general arrangement of the parts of the harness connected to the saddle is improved, and the construction of the saddle is adapted to this arrangement, as well as having improved meansfor attachment to the shaft.

As I prefer to construct my invention, and as shown in the drawings, the saddle 1 comprises the skirt 2 made up of an inner thickness 3 and an outer thickness 4: surmounted by the jockey 5, which extends down about the usual distance on each side.

As here shown, the saddle is reinforced by a resilient metal tree 6, lying under the inner thickness 3 and extending down at if desired.

The upper safety strap 10 lies over the jockey 5, and at the top, in the middle, a tee-hook 11 has a shank 12 passing down through the safety strap 10, the jockey 5, the two layers 3 and 4 of the saddle skirt and through the metal tree 6 with a nut 13 which binds them all together. This safety strap 10 is also preferably stitched to the jockey 5 down to a point near the lower end of the jockey on each side, where terrets 1 1 have shanks 15 passing down through the safety strap 10 and through the jockey 5 with a flat spring 16 received between the safety strap 10 and the jockey 5 with this shank 15 passing through it, and with a socket plate 17 placed on the lower side of the jockey, through which the shank 15 also passes and is riveted down there against, so that in this part of the harness the safety strap 10, flat spring 16, jockey 5 and socket plate 17 are held firmly together by the terret. The middle part of the outer thickness 4 of the skirt 2 is cut away, and the socket plate 17 extends down from the terret along the skirt and has channel legs 18 which fit in the cut-away part of the thickness 4:, so that the space between the legs 18 forms a socket. This cutting away of the thickness 4 is continued up close to the terret at the top, so that the socket formed is continuous from the lower end of the jockey up to this point. The inner thickness 3 is slotted to receive the lower edges of the legs 18, and this inner thickness 3 thus forms the bottom or inner side of the socket for itsentire length, supported laterally by the legs 18 in the slots, and is supported outward by the tree 6; or if the tree 6 were omitted would be supported outward by the pad 7and its filling 8 alone.

The combined shaft tug and support 19 up near the terret 11. The lower end ofthis tug 19 is in the form of a loop 21 through which the shaft 22 is extended.

down past the lower end of the socket plate and jockey and has a plunger 24 which extends down through a bushing 25 that is fitted in an opening in the socket plate and an opening in the jockey, with a flange 2'6 fitting down on the upper surface of the jockey around the opening, this flange being riveted through the jockey to the socket plate. This plunger 24 is normallypressed down by the flatfspring '16 on which it is carried, and will enter any one off the perforations 23 in the strap extension 20fof, the tug 19. By this means the tug 19 may be quickly adjusted up or down to give the shafts any desired position. Preferably, the inner thickness 3 and the tree 6 are also perforated, and the plunger 24 is made long enough to extend through these parts when in normal position, and thus be reinforced by the metal tree (5. This arrangement allows the shaft tug to be quickly adjusted and causes it to be held firmly in anyadjusted position. This shaft tug is'also less bulky, and has no loose extended parts to form obstacles and resist the pressure of the air when the horse is traveling at high speed, as well as to make a noise, which is disconcerting both to the horse and to the driver. Also, this tug supported and adjusted in this manner is especially adapted to have its loop 21 made of round cross section as shown instead of being in the form of a flat strap to pass around the shaft. Such a loop may be made with the seam outside away from contact with the shaft and never exposed to wear on the shaft, so that the tug is far more durable than one with a somewhat flat strap in which the seam or seams must receive part of the wear and which, when worn, allow the tug to come apart.

The safety strap 10, passing down over the flat spring 16 and; wound around the shaft 22, reinforces the spring 16 and holds it positively in its normal position with this plunger 24 through the perforation of the strap extension 20 of the tug 19, and this strap also reinforces the tug'lO at the shaft forming a firm attachment to the shaft.

The inside or pocket girth 27 has the pockets 28 on its upwardly extended ends, and these receive the tapered lower ends'of the saddle skirt 2, this girth 27 being continuous under the body of the horse and having a middle pocket 29 through which an outside girth 30 passes,'havinga buckle 31 at each end, and saidv buckle receiving 3 the lower end of the safety strap 10 after said The strap" extension 20 of the tug 19 has a series of perforations 23, and the flat spring 16 extends safety strap has been wound around the slia'ft 22." This outside girth 301s made long enough 'so that the buckle 31 will be well up at thesid'es of the horses body and not to be liable to produce chafing in the region of the horses front legs. To attach the inner or pocket girth 27 to the saddle, the saddle is provided with clips 32 at the sides, which are preferably provided with metal reinforcements 33 inside, with links 34 swinging in them, through which links straps 35 pass down to the girth 27 somewhat below the pockets 28, being folded and stitched thereto, so that, outer members 36 of this strap 35 meet and are secured together by a buckle 37.. at each side of the harness. A lower safety strap 38 passes through the lower pocket 29 along with the outer girth3Q and is brought up 'oneach side, inside the shaft 22, wrappedtherearound, and then brought down and, held by a buckle 39 on the standing partof this strap 38.

Shortly below'the end of the jockey, at each side of, the harness, the saddle skirt has a forward upper D clip 40 and a similar rear upper clip 41 and farther down has a forward lower-D-clip 42 and a similar rear lower clip 43, the forward and rear clip in each instance being integral on a bar 44 or 45. respectively, which is inclosed between the thicknesses 3 and 4v of the skirt 2 with rivets passing through the thickness 6 and through the bars. The lower clips with their bar 45 are close'to the link 34, and a rivet passes through the reinforcement 33 of the clip 32 of the link 34 and. through the bar 45. The forward end of the shaft 22 has the thimble -46 fitting over it, and the thiinble strap 47 is attached to the thimble 46 at the inner side of the shaft and extends back through the upper forward clip 40'and then forward through a buckle 48 attached to its own standing part. The breast strap 49passes around the horses breast from the lower forward clip 42 on one side to the corresponding clip on the other side, passing through the clips and being secured by buckles 5.0 on the standing parts of the strap at eachv s'id'e ofthe harness. The trace 51 extends through the lower rear clip 43 and is secured bya buckle, 52 on its own standing part, this trace extending back for suitable attachment to the vehicle. Another trace 5.3 is stitched to the trace 51 some distance back from the saddle, andextends forwardly and upwardly through theupper rear clip 41, then passing back through a buckle 54 on its own standing part. The T-hook 11 has the neck strap 55 passing behind it and forwardly and downwardly through a loop 56 at the extreme forward part of the breast strap 49; and the over check 57. is also fastened to the T-hook. Directly to the rear of the T-hook 11, on the rear edge of the extreme upper part v ofthe saddle skirt, is a D- clip 58, which is fixed between thethickness'e's 3 and at of the skirt 2 and forms the means for connecting the crupper 59 to the saddle.

My improved harness is well adapted for use without the breast strap49, and, consequently, without the neck strap 55, as shown in Fig. 2. Where the breast strap is dispensed with, as here shown, I prefer to provide the thimble &6 with an additional lower thimble strap 60 which passes back and down and connects through the forward lower D-clip 42 which had received the breast strap 49, being secured by means of a buckle 61 in a manner similarto that of securing the upper thimble strap 47 :by the buckle 4:8. d a 1 j The other parts of the harness notiherein specifically mentioned, and which are merely indicated by dotted lines, are of well known construction and arrangement, requiring no special description herein. d

In my improved harness, constructed as shown in Fig. 1, the trace 51 is brought in direct line with the breast strap 49, eliminating useless vertical strains upon the saddle as well as upon the horses body; and

'making the trace and breast strap more efficient intheir functions as tension members. The additional trace 53 braces the main trace 51, as Well as the saddle; and the thimble strap 47, acting as a hold back strap, will usually be stretched in substantially a horizontal direction; and, having its attachment directly forward from the attachment of the additional trace or brace 53, the same advantage is derived in the operation of these parts as was above noted with respect to the operation of the main trace 51 and brace strap "53. The neck strap 55 supports the forward part of the breast strap 49 in a most efficient manner; and with these parts as well as the girths and safety strapsproperly adj usted,a very firm hitching arrangement is affordechwith a minimum of discomfort to the horse but with a high degree of safety and reliability, and one which is very quickly adjusted to the horse each time thehitching is to be done. The lower thimble strap, in the modification shown in Fig. 2, supports the saddle forwardly at the point where the breast strap serves this purposein the example shown in Fig. 1, affording a very firm hitching arrangement by pulling backward on the end of the shaft, and against the firm attachment of the tug 19 and its safety straps 10 and 38, so that all lost motion is practically eliminated, and. with the saddlefirmly fixed around the horses body by means of the improved girths and safety strap, a thoroughly safe and efficient hitching arrangement is provided for light driving, especially for racing purposes.

The adjustment of the shaft tug in the saddle by the means hereinbefore described ing the harness during the hitching; and the provision of the two safety straps 10 and 38 to reinforce the tug, as well as reinforce the tug adjusting and fastening means, especially contributes to the safety and reliability of the harness.-

Having fully described myinvention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1; In harness, the combination of a saddle, a shaft tug to receive the shaft and comprising a strap extension, said saddle con prising a jockey and having a socket extending lengthwise under the jockey and said strap extension lying within this socket, and

engaging means therein for holding the tug for adjustment up and down with respect to the saddle, said engaging means in the sockethaving. a movable part outside the jockey for manipulating the engaging means, and a safety strap lylng over the ockey and drawn down over the movable part of the engaging means, thereby rein forcing it in its holding of the tug, said safety strap being adapted to be wrapped around the shaft adjacent to the tug and to pass down along the saddle, a pocket girth comprising pockets receiving parts ofthe saddle, and comprising another pocket adapted to lie directly under the animals body, an outer girth passing through this pocket, and means for adjustably securing said safety strap to this outer girth.

2. In harness, the combination of a saddle, a shaft tug toreceive the shaft and comprising a strap extension, said saddle comprising a ockey and having a socket extending lengthwise under the jockey, and said strap extension lying within this socket, and engaging means therein for holding the tug for adjustment up and down with respect to the saddle, said engaging means in the socket having a movable part outside the jockey for manipulating the engaging means, and a safety strap lying over the jockey and drawn down over the movable part of the engaging means thereby reinforcing it in its holding of the tug, said safety strap being adapted to be wrapped around the shaft adjacent to the tug and to pass down along the saddle, a pocket girth comprising pockets receiving parts of the saddle and comprising anotherpocketadapted to liedirectly under the animals body, an outer girth passing through this pocket, means for ,adjustably securing said safety strap to this outer girth, and a second safety strap passing through this pocket along with the outer girth and adapted to be secured around the shaft at each side of the animal.

3. In harness, the combination of a saddle comprising skirts, a shaft tug to receive the shaft and comprising a strap extension, said especially contributes to the easeof adjustdle co pr sin a jo key, nd having. a

socket extending lengthwise under the jockey, said i strap lying'f'withflin socket, and engagin'g ineans therein for holding the stra '1' extension for adjustment np'and' down with respect to the saddle; said engaging means in the see a ha viii amab e part, outs de, he il y op na ipli 11 h n i am n a d. a tyf tr p lyi'hg' over the jockey and dgYYil over the movable part of the engaging means tlierebyf ieinifoi' cing it iIi itsholding ofthe tug, said safety strap being adapted "to he \tlra'pped' a ronn'c'l the s'h'a ft adjacefnt tofthe tiigandt o passdotvn along the saddle, a po ket irth o pris n Pocke ee ir g t i d ki ts, nd n a is tadjus ab y connecting the saddle skirts to thep'hckt girth with said skirts held in thepockets.

' '4. Inharness, the conihinationfoffa saddle comprising skirts, a sh'ajft tt g to fieceive tl'ie shaft and comprising a strap extension said I saddle cornprisin'g a jockey having a so t x e ing n w e nd t i y, a d. st p X e o y n fw th n said socket, and engaging means on the strap extension for holdingthe mg for adji strnent up and, down with respecttci the saddle, said engaging niean's' in the socket haying a movable" part outside the jockey for'inanipulating the engaging means, and a safety strap lying otter thei jockey and drawn down over 'the' n ovable part of the engaging means, thereby reinforcing it in its holding of the trig,said safety strap being adapted to be Wrapped around the shaft adjacent to the tug andto pass down aldng thes'addle, a pocket girth comprising: p'o'ckets to receive the skirts of thesaddle, a link clipped "on thesaddle skirt ateach side of the saddle, a strap fin'ed' to the pocket girth below'the pocket at each side of-thegirth ande'xtending lip throngh'the link'on the saddle skirt, and means for adjnstahly" seairin this strap through said link.

'5'. In harness, a saddlecornprising a skirt having ttvo thicknesses of material, for- Ward clip and a rear clip" substantiallyin alin'ement With each other at the respective edgesof the saddle skirt, and a harWvfith which said clips are integral; said bar lying bet'tveenthe thicknesses of material of the t egm means for holding said extension for adiil fi' i ni 1 .i i QW n h s ck t t adig t me; 11 r. 'bwn', e he ad e" 81' In'h'arness', a'saddle comprising skirt wi h, a sQQk e te d ng engt w se, her

l y ng w th n he" a e, sa l extens n i in a eiii 'Sfbf pnfdratier s tl e'ral g, ti ef'yi b y. m unt p inger i e n h ii. he qli t f in) ibfln of he P61" ftqre i iise a-I 'd ho th jx e ibe. fo adjustrnentfalting the socket, toadjiislt said trig up fdw foi h "sa dl -"lnfhi ins af add e c mp ising skirt ith a'so li t ex e din nsfi ir s ther in,

n w h 1 eeiei iii ip a rj ipl x sibn lying within the socket, a soc l zet plate y n W in he s ket, fi spar ng x in the sa es-t e t ap t n 'i fihivm m qi y one of which the plu'n V I a'p ex ensionfln the socket, for

saddle. 10'."I n harness, a saddle comprising a skirt and "Jockey surinountingfthe; skirt,

'rneans that; h-brd'jthet ug e tensio to reineref ed '12.'In' harness, a saddle comprising a skirt and jockey sweet ning thj skirt,

said- 'skirt having a socket nndefthe jockey, e" emplt ns nap ii e ib yin Within thesbckehineans holding said extension in the socket; forhdjustn ent of the" extension along the socket,' to adjiistthe tug up for' dotvn the saddlegaiid asaf e'tjii strap overlying 'thefjock'ey and engaging tvith' the nieans that holds the dig rein- :f orcesaidnieansfsaid tug receiving and holdlng a shaft and said 'safety' strap being wrapped aroiind the shaft adjacent to the tug and reinforcingthe tug in holding the r: H}: 11 1;? i Mf '13". In harness, a saddle comprising a skirt with a socket extending lengthwise e d. shit, we. venti g. temp extension lying within the socket, said extension having a series of perforations therealong, and a yieldably mounted plunger extending into the socket to enter any one of the perforations and hold the extension for adjustment along the socket, to adjust said tug up or down on the saddle, said plunger also extending through said skirt from the socket, and said tree having a perforation through which the plunger also extends, whereby the plunger is reinforced by the tree.

14. In harness, a saddle comprising a skirt made up of two thicknesses of material and a jockey overlying the outer thickness for part of its extent, saidouter thick ness having a part cut away under the jockey, forming a socket extending lengthwise within the skirt, and the inner thickness of material of the skirt forming the bottom or inner side of the socket, a socket plate lying under the jockey and comprising channel legs extending along the sides of the socket formed in. the outer thickness of material, and the inner thickness of material having slots into which the channel legs extend, whereby said legs form the sides of the socket at its entrance and whereby they reinforce the thicknesses of material of the saddle skirt laterally, a plunger yieldably mounted and extending through the socket plate into the socket, and a tug com prising a strap extension lying in the socket, said extension having perforations which the plunger enters, whereby the tug is held for adjustment up and down with respect to the saddle skirt.

15. In harness, a saddle comprising a skirt made up of two thicknesses of material and a jockey overlying the outer thickness for part of its extent, said outer thickness having a part cut away under the jockey, form ing a socket extending'lengthwise within the skirt, and the inner thickness of material of the skirt forming the bottom or inner side of the socket, a socket plate lying under the jockey and comprising channel legs extending along the sides of the socket formed in the outer thickness of material, and the inner thickness of material having slots into which the channel legs extend, whereby said legs form the sides of the socket at its entrance and whereby they reinforce the thicknesses of material of the saddle skirt laterally, and a safety strap secured over the jockey and over the yieldable mounting of the plunger to hold the plunger in a perforation of said strap extension of the tug.

16. In harness, a saddle comprising a skirt made up of two thicknesses of material and a jockey overlying the outer thickness for part of its extent, said outer thickness having a part cut away under the jockey, forming a socket extending lengthwise within the skirt, and the inner thickness of material of the skirt forming the bottom or inner side of the socket, a socket plate lying under the jockey and comprising channel legs extending along the sides of the socket formed in the outer thickness of material, and the inner thickness of material having slots into which the channel legs extend, whereby said legs form the sides of the socket at its entrance and whereby they reinforce the thicknesses of material of the saddle skirt laterally, a flat spring outside the jockey, and means extending through the jockey and securing the spring to the socket plate, a plunger mounted on the flat spring and extending through the jockey and socket plate, and a tug comprising a strap extension with perforations lying within the socket, said plunger entering the perforations whereby the tug is held for adjustment up and down with respect to the saddle skirt.

17. In harness, a saddle comprising a skirt made up of two thicknesses of material and a jockey overlying the outer thickness for part of its extent, said outer thickness having a part cut away under the jockey, forming a socket extending lengthwise within the skirt, and the inner thickness of material of the skirt forming the bottom or inner side of the socket, a socket plate lying under the jockey and comprising channel legs extend ing along the sides of the socket formed in the outer thickness of material, and the inner thickness of material having slots into which the channel legs extend, whereby said legs form the sides of the socket at its entrance and whereby they reinforce the thicknesses of material of the saddle skirt laterally, a flat spring outside the jockey, and means extending through the jockey and securing the spring to the socket plate, a plunger mounted on the flat spring and extending through the jockey and socket plate, a tug comprising a strap extension with perforations lying within the socket, said plunger entering the perforations whereby the tug is adjusted with respect to the saddle skirt, and a bushing extending through the jockey to the socket plate, around the plunger, and comprising a flange lying over the outside of the jockey, and means fastening the flange to the socket plate through the jockey and holding the bushing and the jockey down upon the socket plate.

18. In harness, a saddle comprising a skirt made up of two thicknesses of material, and a jockey overlying the outer thickness for part of its extent, said outer thickness having a part cut away under the jockey. forming a socket extending lengthwise within the skirt, and the inner thickness of material of the skirt forming the bottom or inner side of the socket, a socket plate lying under the jockey and comprising channel legs ex tending along the sides of the socket formed in the outer thickness of material, and the inner thickness of material having slots into which the channel legs extend, whereby said legs form the sides of the socket at its entrance and whereby they reinforce the thicknesses of material of the saddle skirt laterally, a flat spring lying outside the ockey, a terret having a shank passing through the fiat spring, through the jockey and through the socket plate and fixed therein, thereby holding the flat spring, the jockey and the socket plate tightly together, a plunger carried on said fiat spring and extending through the jockey and through the socket plate, and a tug comprising a strap exten sion with perforations, lying within the socket, said perforations receiving the plunger, whereby the tug is held for adjustment up and down with respect to the saddle skirt.

19. In harness, a saddle comprising a skirt made up of two thicknesses of material and a jockey overlying the outer thickness for part of its extent, said outer thickness having a part cut away under the jockey, forming a socket extending lengthwise within the skirt, and the inner thickness of material of the skirt forming the bottom or inner side of the socket, a socket plate lying under the jockey and comprising channel legs extending along the sides of the socket formed in the outer thickness of material, and the inner thickness of material having slots into which the channel legs extend, whereby said legs form the sides of the socket at its entrance, and whereby they reinforce the thicknesses of material of'the saddle skirt laterally, a plunger yieldably mounted and extending into the socket, and a tug comprising a strap extension with perforations, lying within the socket and receiving the plunger, whereby the tug is held for adjustment up and down with respect to the saddle skirt, and a resilient tree lying within the saddle skirt and reinforcing said skirt, the inner thickness of material of the skirt and said tree having perforations through which said plunger extends, whereby the plunger is reinforced by engagement through the tree.

20'. In harness, a saddle comprising a skirt made up of two thicknesses of material and a jockey overlying the outer thickness for part of its extent, said outer thickness having a part cut away under the jockey, forming a socket extending lengthwise within the skirt, and the inner thickness of material of the skirt forming the bottom or inner side of thesocket, a socket plate lying under the jockey and comprising channel legs extending along the sides of the socket formed in the outer thickness of material, and the inner thicknessof material having slots into which the channel legs extend, whereby said legs form the sides of the socket at its entrance and whereby they reinforce the thicknesses of material of the saddle skirt laterally, a tug comprising a strap extension lying within the socket, means for adjustably securing the strap extension in the socket, and interior padding means comprised in the structure of said saddle, supporting the inner thickness of material of the skirt where it forms the inner side or bottom of the socket.

521. In harness, a saddle comprising a skirt made up of two thicknesses of material and a jockey overlying the outer thickness for part of its extent, said outer thickness having a part cut away under the jockey, forming a socket extending lengthwise within the skirt, and the inner thicknesslof material of the skirt forming the bottom or inner side of the socket, a socket plate lying under the jockey and comprising channel legs extending along the sides of the socket formed in the outer thickness of material, and the inner thickness of material having slots into which the channel legs extend, whereby said legs form the sides of the socket at its entrance and whereby they reinforce the thicknesses of material of the saddle skirt laterally, a tug comprising a strap extension lying within the socket, means for adjustably securing the strap extension in the socket, a resilient tree for the saddle lying "against the inner side of the inner thicknessof material of the skirt and reinforcing said inner thickness where it forms the inner side or bottom of the socket, and

adding means aroundsaid tree inside the saddle skirt.

LOUIS A. GILSON. Witnesses:

JAMEs N. RAMsEY, CLARENCE PERDEW.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.{ 

